A recent study from research groups in Brazil and the United Kingdom has found that extracts from the seeds of Moringa oleifera, commonly known as the “miracle tree,” may serve as an affordable solution to microplastic contamination in drinking water.
As reported by CNN on April 29, 2026, the same month the findings were published, the extracts were shown to remove up to 98 percent of microplastics in tap water under laboratory conditions.
As described by the United Nations Environment Programme, microplastics are defined as any fragments of plastic measuring between one nanometre and five millimetres in width. “One nanometre is just a fraction of the width of a human hair, and 5 millimetres is about the width of a wedding band,” wrote on its website.
Study author Adriano Gonçalves dos Reis and his team have studied the seeds for over a decade as a natural coagulant and now their potential for removing microplastics.
The study specifically focused on PVC microplastics, with an average size of 18.8 micrometers, and found that the extracts achieved a 98.5 percent removal rate when seed extracts were used in filtration systems.
Despite its promising potential as a low-cost and natural alternative, experts emphasize the need for further testing before it can be applied to large-scale water treatment systems.
Future research will also explore its effectiveness against nanoplastics — far smaller particles that can also pass through conventional filtration systems and are more likely to enter the human body. Addressing these nanoscale contaminants remains a critical next step in developing safer and more comprehensive water purification methods. (Tasha Zosa Anton / UP Cebu Intern)